What's good in the world ( news )

[TheMercenary]

No snow where I live. Only lots and lots of rain.

[classicman]

bumpity boo ... Here is a great "Good News" story.

Cash Mob

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio -- It began quietly, as an email to 40 friends.

But when a steady stream of customers began coming through the door before the family-owned Chagrin Hardware had even opened for the day on Saturday, it was clear that it had turned into much more than that.

The idea started with Jim Black, a resident of Chagrin Falls, a close-knit village in Cleveland's eastern suburbs that is part artist colony and part bedroom community. Black posted the email to a group of his friends. "Let's show our support for one of our local businesses," he wrote. "I challenge everyone to spend AT LEAST $20 at the hardware on the 21st."

Although his email referred to the idea of a "Cash Mob" or the notion to "Occupy CF Hardware," he really had no political agenda. And it wasn't meant as a protest against the big-box stores that have created an ever-tightening circle around the community.

It was just a way to thank Chagrin Hardware's owners for a beloved shop that has been a fixture in the village since 1857.

"These are good people who needed our support," Black said. "It's just that simple."

By 10 a.m. the place was jammed. By 1:30 p.m., the credit card machine was overloaded and had to be reset. "This is so cool," said Steve Shutts, a mix of joy, wonder and happy exhaustion spread across his face. "I've seen people today I haven't seen in years."

Link

[Lamplighter]

Clean your room... no more

The Swiss have been the world's bank for quite a while.
Now the Swiss are saying they'll be our mother, too.

[regular.joe]

Originally Posted by squirell nutkin

Now why am I thinking of a three-legged pig?

HA!!! Yea, a pig like that you just don't eat all at once.

[infinite monkey]

Prison Kittens are cared for by staff and inmates:

A few months ago, a litter of kittens broke into a maximum security prison. Now, they’re living happily amongst the inmates and staff.

The feral felines managed to sneak into the basement of Great Meadow Correctional Facility in upstate New York, the Post-Star of Glens Falls reports. When employees first discovered them, they needed to bathe the kittens to remove hundreds of fleas. They also had to deworm them and feed them milk through baby bottles.

Now, the kittens are much less disgusting than they were then and are living happily in the building maintenance area in a “kitty condo” fashioned by an inmate.

http://newsfeed.time.com/2014/01/15/...curity-prison/

[DanaC]

Nice story.

And prisoners having access to a pet of sorts might alleviate a lot of the mental stress many of them are under.

[infinite monkey]

I recently re-watched the whole HBO series, Oz.

For those who don't know, this was HBO's first series, started in 1997. It's about the goings-on at Oswald Maximum Security Prison, and in particular about Emerald City which is an experimental part of the prison.

Anyway, at one point 3 of the prisoners (two of the three were my favorite characters: Augustus Hill and Miguel Alvarez...my very favorite character being Ryan O'Reilly (played by Dean Winters, now known as Mayhem in the Allstate commercials) got to keep and train assistance dogs. I think this is a program that is still going on IRL. Oz was, of course, fiction, but it does a heart good to imagine the inmates who take on the task as connecting with the animal.

"Oz: Dream a Little Dream of Me (#5.3)" (2002)
[Penders and Alvarez are training seeing eye dogs]
Alicia Hinden: Okay, you see the steaks?
Greg Penders: We gonna teach the dogs how to cook?
Alicia Hinden: No, we're going to teach them restraint. I'm going to put them on the floor, and you're going to stop them from eating it.
Miguel Alvarez: All right.
Greg Penders: You gotta be kidding me.
Alicia Hinden: What?
Greg Penders: I haven't seen a steak in six years. Now, you're gonna throw it on the floor so a dog WON'T eat it?

[tw]

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

Prison Kittens are cared for by staff and inmates

Is there any relationship between teaching empathy and learning it from caring from pets? Can this be a form of rehabilitation?

[Clodfobble]

There are many prison dog programs, as well as several prison horse programs.

[tw]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

There are many prison dog programs, as well as several prison horse programs.

Those citation only say such program exist in near zero prisons.

But more important, does a useful relationship exist between teaching empathy and learning it by caring for pets? Not if any program exists. What is the value of (if any) practicing or learning empathy?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by tw

What is the value of (if any) practicing or learning empathy?

Bwahahahahahahahaha... choke... gasp... snort... and I believe he's serious.

[Molasar]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Bwahahahahahahahaha... choke... gasp... snort... and I believe he's serious.

Perhaps tw is an economist and was trying to monetise empathy?

[Clodfobble]

Originally Posted by tw

But more important, does a useful relationship exist between teaching empathy and learning it by caring for pets? Not if any program exists. What is the value of (if any) practicing or learning empathy?

Countless psychological studies have proven the value of empathy in promoting pro-social behavior. As for whether animal interaction actually leads to a measurable increase in empathy, specifically in the inmate population, studies are limited but there are a few, though some are only in German.

[lumberjim]

It also makes you more likeable on forums

[tw]

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

As for whether animal interaction actually leads to a measurable increase in empathy, specifically in the inmate population, studies are limited ...

That is what I suspected. Also demonstrated here are the many who think otherwise only because they 'feel' it must be true. Same type people also assumed more jails makes a safer society. Another example of knowledge proven by silly emotion.

Empathy is often cited in studies for better health. But we have a problem with rehabilitation. Apparently less studies (domestically) target this problem. Which is also silly since the US has the world's largest prison population both in numbers and percentages.

An interesting proposition is that empathy (ie caring for kittens) could have lasting consequences for some types of prisoners. But it is only a proposition apparently with few facts to justify it. Still the easily manipulated somehow *know* empathy must be good for all rehabilitation. Without first learning facts.

The question remains for others, with a more adult attitude, to contribute. Does a useful relationship exist between teaching empathy and learning it by caring for pets? And which type of prisoners would best benefit from such programs?

Another interesting question. How might one monetize empathy? Virtually?